Split from: How to be a better solo diver thread

[Cacia]

Walter, I think there is much to discuss about solo and doing it SAF-ER.
Looks like Dennis and I might be getting the much dreaded pony bottles. This was borne from the context of many discussions on here, not just a rule someone posted. The context was gathered in the big picture, the overview, of who does what and why.

Rob would make a great mod, is a very reasonable person....I am looking forward to what he proposes for the "sticky".

I thought Nemrod's analogy to sex and kids was brilliant.....I know, I already said that.

I see it differently. I think both are important.

yea, but one gets way too much airtime around here, and the other too little. (except for the old-timers,... don't we have any younger divers with common sense?)

 

[Diver Dennis]

I can't speak for Rob, but I try not to do things that can harm others. I agree with you that I am not responsible for another's actions, unless I've misled them in some manner.

I think the warning Pete posted should allow us all to feel free to speak our minds while in this forum.

I agree Walter, I think the vast majority of SB users rarely post, they just read. I think there is a difference between talking about solo diving's merits and possible pitfalls as opposed to openly promoting it.
I agree with you too Captain.

 

[Walter]

Walter, I think there is much to discuss about solo and doing it SAF-ER.
Looks like Dennis and I might be getting the much dreaded pony bottles. This was borne from the context of many discussions on here, not just a rule someone posted. The context was gathered in the big picture, the overview, of who does what and why.

Darlin', you've known about pony bottles for years. Why would the fact that someone else uses one influence your decision. I often dive solo with doubles, but sometimes not. I think (not checking the logs) my deepest solo dive was to 168, but my deepest solo dive without a second reg was to 152. I feel I was as safe on one as the other. I've certainly gotten ideas and learned from posts here (and on Diverlink and RSD before SB existed), but those ideas came from topics other than solo.

The one thing recently that has made me question my solo practices was not on the board, but my dive this past Saturday morning. There were three of us on that dive and I truly believe Jim saved the lives of both Dario and myself. OTOH, Dario saved Jim's life and mine. I also saved both of them. If there had been only two of us, it would have been a closer call. What if one of us had been there alone? I believe that one, regardless of which, would have died. Now, this is the first time I've ever experienced anything remotely like this and in the future, I'll get out of the water sooner in a similar situation, but still, we were a long way from the boat before we realized there was a problem. Perhaps there's something I'd rather carry than a pony?

 

[Diver Dennis]

Did you post that somewhere Walter? The reason I'm getting a pony is that I've been thinking about it for a while foe safety reasons and it makes the resort folks a little more comfortable with my solo diving.

 

[Walter]

Did I post what somewhere, Dennis?

 

[Diver Dennis]

The story about your Saturday incident?

 

[Cacia]

is this the Bull sharks almost ate you? That scared me, so i had to stop reading it. really, i don't watch the shark attack videos either. My imagination on a deco stop alone is my worst enemy. I have to work to tame my mind and not putting shark stories in there is one step I take.

I think I need a pony, I have just been too lazy and cheap to get one. And the drag...I will probably buy it and then be too lazy to hook it up. I think I should though.


Do you (Walter) really want to do anything you do not need to question along the way? I question solo every single time I do it. Makes me feel more alive.

 

[Walter]

The story about your Saturday incident?

I did.

is this the Bull sharks almost ate you? That scared me, so i had to stop reading it.

Do you know what to do in a similar situation?

Do you (Walter) really want to do anything you do not need to question along the way?

I don't understand the question.

 

[Damselfish]

If you are inclined to dive solo and have the necessary experience to do it safely, why would you be asking questions about the practice? If you don't, I'm not going to help you get into the practice.

You could go one step further and say "if you have the necessary experience to dive at all why would you be asking questions about diving."

Seems like there are always things to be learned - I think someone even someone who doesn't solo can learn things from a discussion on it.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Thanks Walter.